Merseyside FRS wishes to establish a framework agreement for the purchase of Detection, Identification and Monitoring equipment for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear capability. The equipment is intended for use when National Resilience teams respond to incidents that could involve the release of chemical, biological or radiological substances. There are some 18 such teams to be re-equipped with new devices as well as a possible requirement for dedicated devices for training. The framework agreement has been made available to the other ‘Blue Light Service’ i.e. all other UK FRSs, Police Forces and Ambulance Services.

The suite of devices will utilise a variety of technologies to allow the greatest number of 'target materials' to be detected and identified. Having a variety of technologies will allow potential complementary identification of the target materials and so reduce gaps in capability.

The competitive exercise has been divided into discrete 'lots', based on the likely individual technologies. Although it is envisaged that there will be a single supplier appointed for each lot, a device that delivers more than one technology type may be entered into any lot for which it can be used.

Tenders from suitably experienced suppliers having relevant expertise in detection, identification and monitoring in Chemical, Biological and Radiological disciplines are welcome.

Device to identify solid and liquid chemical materials, using infra-red spectroscopy.

Innovative Device

Lot 10: For a device to identify solid, liquid, gas or vapour chemical materials using any other innovative technology not listed in any other lot (not including devices that utilise photoionisation detection, radiation dosimetry, colorimetry, lateral flow assay, wet chemistry, ion mobility spectroscopy, monitors for flammable/toxic/irrespirable atmospheres).

For a device to identify gas and vapour chemical materials, using mass spectroscopy

Device to identify gas and vapour chemical materials, using flame photometry.

Device to identify solid and liquid chemical materials, using raman spectroscopy.

For a device to identify biological materials, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

For a device to detect emitted gamma and neutron radiation

For a device to detect emitted alpha radiation

For a device to detect emitted beta radiation

For a device to identify gamma emitting radiological isotopes